UTAH UTES
RJ Hubert Fumble Recovery Leads To Brant Kuithe Touchdown For Utah
Sep 3, 2022, 5:25 PM
Utah Utes tight end Brant Kuithe (80) celebrates after a catch during the Rose Bowl game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Utah Utes on January 1, 2022 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One play shifted the momentum in the opening quarter as Brant Kuithe scored a touchdown for Utah against Florida.
All the momentum was on Florida’s side, racking up 60 yards but everything changed when Jonah Elliss stripped the ball from Florida. Utah safety RJ Hubert scooped up the fumble and returned it inside Florida’s 30-yard line. Moments later, Cam Rising threw a touchdown pass to Brant Kuithe to give the Utes a 7-0 lead over the Gators.
Brant Kuithe barrels head first into the end zone to give #GoUtes a touchdown lead over Florida in The Swamp!
Utah has two tight ends in PFNs top 10 positional rankings for the ‘23 #NFLDraft
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 3, 2022
The last time Utah and Florida played each other was 45 years ago in 1977. The Utes lost 38-29 in that contest. Since that first and only meeting, Utah has had a bit of a glow-up “busting” the BCS twice, including walloping fellow SEC conference-mate Alabama 31-17 and earning their way into a Power Five conference. This will be the first time Florida has played a Pac-12 team since 1989 (33 years ago) against Washington in the Freedom Bowl where they lost 34-7.
Most expect this meeting to go a little differently than the last one. Utah is ranked #7 in the country ahead of their season opener against the Gators who are in the process of breaking in a new head coach. Make no mistakes, this Florida team is talented enough to upset the Utes if opportunity presents itself, but if Kyle Whittingham and his crew continue the trajectory they were on in 2021 they should be able to take care of business.
Last season was underwhelming for Florida going 6-7 despite the talent they possessed. It resulted in former head coach Dan Mullen being fired and new head coach Billy Napier being brought on to right the ship. Napier spent four seasons as Louisiana’s head coach and racked up a win/loss record of 40-12 with four consecutive West Division Titles in the Sun Belt Conference, and two Sun Belt Titles- one shared in 2020, and one out-right in 2021.
Florida is returning 13 total starters from last season’s team, six on offense and seven on defense. They have 43 Lettermen players returning in 2022.
Utah’s game against Florida can be seen on ESPN.
